Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to six accused in the 2015 murder of Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Govind Pansare on the grounds of long incarceration.
Justice A S Kilor has granted bail to six accused – Sachin Andure, Ganesh Miskin, Amit Degvekar, Amit Baddi, Bharat Kurane and Vasudev Suryavanshi.
The bail plea of accused Virendrasinh Tawade will be heard by Justice Kilor separately.
About Govind Pansare's Murder
On February 16, 2015, Pansare was shot in Kolhapur and he succumbed to injuries on February 20. Pansare, 82, and his wife Uma were returning home from their morning walk in the Samrat Nagar area of Kolhapur when two bike-borne men fired multiple rounds at them before fleeing. Pansare succumbed to his injuries on February 20, 2015, while under treatment at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. His wife survived the attack after receiving treatment in the hospital.
Initially handled by Rajarampuri Police Station, Kolhapur, the investigation was later transferred to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the Additional Director General of Police (CID), Maharashtra.
Dissatisfied with the lack of progress in tracing the shooters, Pansare’s family sought the case’s transfer to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The HC, on August 3, 2022, had transferred the probe to the ATS observing that there has been “no headway” or “break through” in the case. The team was led by Superintendent of Police Jayant Meena, was formed to continue the probe.
Of the 12 accused identified, 10 were arrested, and four supplementary charge sheets were filed. Trial against these ten accused are on. The two shooters in the case are still absconding.
The HC had been monitoring the probe in the case on a plea by the family. Early this month it ceased monitoring saying “further monitoring of the investigation of the present crime is not necessary”. The court, however, expedited the trial in the case.
